Topic: Can Huff pull a LaBorn with Parachek?

[IM4DHERD]

Or a Handlogton, a la Danny?  Or a Pennington (Sr.)?

Full disclosure, I started researching this because I was thinking why in the h-e-double toothpicks are we bringing in some kid from Morehead State who had to go to Prep school first.  This is what I learned...

So after Zamora left, we have in the QB room returning starter R-So. Fancher and backups R-So. Cunningham, So. Pennington and So. Harrison.  Yet Huff decides to bring in this Colin Parachek kid in from Morehead State. 

IIRC Huff said in regards to transfers he will only consider those he or his staff have familiarity with, through the recruiting process or otherwise.  Wonder who might have ties with him and what they might know?

Colin wouldn't seem to give us a dual threat with his 4.8+ 40 time, but might he have some kind of "it" factor?  This from the Detroit News:

Parachek was extremely successful at Dexter, coming in as the starting quarterback for a team with a 42-game losing streak his sophomore year in 2018.

He was 19-9 as a starter, averaging more than 40 points during that span while completing 518-of-826 passes for 7,561 yards and 90 TDs. He set multiple school records his junior year in 2019, including passing yards (2,816), completions (182) and TD passes (39).

Last fall, Parachek threw for 507 yards and seven TDs in a 70-38 win over Jackson. He completed 36 passes in a 52-35 Division 2 district final loss to Livonia Churchill.

At the time of his graduation, Parachek ranked sixth all-time in TD passes, seventh all-time in completions and 11th all-time in passing yards in Michigan high school football history. 

He also might well be a much better athlete than his 40 time might show...Played basketball and baseball in HS and look up his kid brother Brennan who is heading to Michigan State as a stud tight end with very high expectations.

Reports are that he was somewhat snake bit in his recruiting process.  Again from the Detroit News:

Colin Parachek checked all the boxes to be a Division 1 quarterback.

But his quest was altered by the COVID-19 pandemic, the transfer portal and the extra year of eligibility given to current players by the NCAA.

He had all the measurables college coaches are looking for in a quarterback. He stands 6-foot-4, 200 pounds and possesses a strong arm, good mobility and outstanding leadership skills.

The pandemic prevented him from being seen by college coaches. No camps were held during the summer heading into his senior year. The three-sport athlete (also playing basketball and baseball) didn?t attend camps early on.

Also, Michigan moved their football season to the Spring his Sr. year so most available scholarships were filled before he even took his first snap of that season.   The "extra year of eligibility" for Seniors noted above was announced in August before the Fall season started so by the time he took his first snap in the Spring most "available" scholarships for that year were simply gone.

This is why he went to Myrtle Beach Collegiate Prep, not because of grades (he carried a 3.75 GPA) but to get more exposure.  Didn't seem to help as he wound up at Morehead State, but I refer to the above question of who on the staff might have recruited him earlier??

[MicDrass1]

He might be good.  At least push the room. 

[svherd]

Or a Handlogton, a la Danny?  Or a Pennington (Sr.)?

Full disclosure, I started researching this because I was thinking why in the h-e-double toothpicks are we bringing in some kid from Morehead State who had to go to Prep school first.  This is what I learned...

So after Zamora left, we have in the QB room returning starter R-So. Fancher and backups R-So. Cunningham, So. Pennington and So. Harrison.  Yet Huff decides to bring in this Colin Parachek kid in from Morehead State. 

IIRC Huff said in regards to transfers he will only consider those he or his staff have familiarity with, through the recruiting process or otherwise.  Wonder who might have ties with him and what they might know?

Colin wouldn't seem to give us a dual threat with his 4.8+ 40 time, but might he have some kind of "it" factor?  This from the Detroit News:

At the time of his graduation, Parachek ranked sixth all-time in TD passes, seventh all-time in completions and 11th all-time in passing yards in Michigan high school football history. 

He also might well be a much better athlete than his 40 time might show...Played basketball and baseball in HS and look up his kid brother Brennan who is heading to Michigan State as a stud tight end with very high expectations.

Reports are that he was somewhat snake bit in his recruiting process.  Again from the Detroit News:

Also, Michigan moved their football season to the Spring his Sr. year so most available scholarships were filled before he even took his first snap of that season.   The "extra year of eligibility" for Seniors noted above was announced in August before the Fall season started so by the time he took his first snap in the Spring most "available" scholarships for that year were simply gone.

This is why he went to Myrtle Beach Collegiate Prep, not because of grades (he carried a 3.75 GPA) but to get more exposure.  Didn't seem to help as he wound up at Morehead State, but I refer to the above question of who on the staff might have recruited him earlier??

Just to clarify. Pennington and Harrison will be RS Freshmen.

[MicDrass1]

https://www.hudl.com/profile/6112724

[MicDrass1]

If the staff does a true open competition and Fancher is beaten out we will be in good shape on offense

[gochneaur645]

What's the deal with Harrison? I feel like I didn't hear a single thing about him, good or bad, all season other than the couple snaps he had against Norfolk.

He seemed to be easily the most promising of the 3 true freshmen when recruited. I thought Zamora's tape was extremely mediocre and that he was overhyped from the beginning because of his social media presence. And obviously Herd fans are going to drool over Cole's last name (rightfully so), but still, I wouldn't count Harrison out yet.

2022 QB Rankings according to 247:

#60- Harrison
#87- Pennington
#112- Zamora

[Flat Tire 2]

I thought Parachek is a walk-on candidate  per an earlier thread on the second page? There is another thread that stated he was a walk-on, but I don't have time to research it right now.

http://www.herdfans.com/12thman/index.php?topic=114962.0

[herdfan129]

Look at his stats at Morehead. Don?t get your hopes up.

Why wasn?t he the starter at Morehead? Why didn?t he put up good numbers in his limited action at Morehead?

[IM4DHERD]

Look at his stats at Morehead. Don?t get your hopes up.

Why wasn?t he the starter at Morehead? Why didn?t he put up good numbers in his limited action at Morehead?

I don't have answers, only questions.

[GreenDaddy]

https://www.hudl.com/profile/6112724

It's hard for me to judge anything from film, but the ball placement on his throws are pretty good. Hopefully he is a diamond in the rough that our staff has sniffed out.

[herdorbust2]

What's the deal with Harrison? I feel like I didn't hear a single thing about him, good or bad, all season other than the couple snaps he had against Norfolk.

He seemed to be easily the most promising of the 3 true freshmen when recruited. I thought Zamora's tape was extremely mediocre and that he was overhyped from the beginning because of his social media presence. And obviously Herd fans are going to drool over Cole's last name (rightfully so), but still, I wouldn't count Harrison out yet.

2022 QB Rankings according to 247:

#60- Harrison
#87- Pennington
#112- Zamora

I always wondered the same thing. It's like Zamora promoted himself on social media and Huff said he was a film junky and everyone thought he was the next coming. My guess is he saw he wasn't even going to be in the top 3 and bolted. Harrison was the top rated of the 3 and it seems like he is never even mentioned. Personally I hope Cole is the guy and the real deal. I'm just not sold on Fancher. His throwing mechanics are awful and I just don't see that getting fixed. We need a good accurate QB that has the "it" factor again whoever it is.

[HoPPy785]

Zamora has a swag about him that makes you want to believe. I think that combined with everything else mentioned made him a darling during camp.

I too thought Harrison looked the best on tape. Maybe he just needs a year to get up to speed.

If we don't bring in another QB then Huff must have high confidence on the young guys. You don't just roll the dice on the QB position and hope for the best. Going to be a fun spring of speculation.

With how undercover the program has become, we may not know the starter until a week from game 1.

[sardistim]

I appreciate the thread now that we are officially in the off-season, fresh from a dominating (at least for the first 34 minutes) bowl win.  The speculation on next year's QB will be at the center of our hopes for next season--whose goal should clearly be an SBC championship.  But the title for the thread is way off.  Laborn was a 5-star recruit with limited success at Florida State.  Parachek was an unwanted recruit that even with an extra year of high school in football-loving South Carolina wound up at Morehead State with disappointing stats in limited playing time in his freshman season.  Laborn and Parachek have very different football pedigrees.

I would expect Fancher to improve somewhat between now and August.  It's a credit to his work-ethic that during the season he improved from being nothing more than a backup, running QB to being a somewhat capable starting QB.  Where he was at the beginning of the season to the last regular season game marked a tremendous improvement that should be applauded.  That said, the bowl game revealed he is nowhere near the level needed to lead a conference championship team.

This spring will be Harrison and Pennington's chance to make a run at Fancher.  I'm not really counting Cunningham here.  I have no expectations of Parachek.  He gets in line behind Harrison and Pennington to take a run at Fancher.  But I'm not getting excited about a guy who had one start against mighty Marist and completed barely 50% (17-32) for 180 yards in a 10 point loss.  To be honest being the Scout Team MVP against our defense is a better achievement. And Fancher did far better against actual D-1 opponents.

All that said, I'll get really excited for next year if (1) we get an actual Laborn transfer (5-star recruit, limited success at top school), or (2) Harrison or Pennington beat out Fancher for QB1--meaning the upside at QB will be taking a step up.  If Fancher retains his starting role by game #1 I'll go into the season with much more limited expectations which will rely on an OLine and a Defense to become top of the conference and Top 25 nationally to achieve a conference crown.

[IM4DHERD]

All good points.  Again, I only have questions, not answers. 

My point is that he didn't seem to be on anyone's radar.  Nor did LaBorn, nor did Chad.

[MUonium]

it's possible Huff is not done getting 2023 QBs.

first, someone recently said Fancher isn't fast.  i don't know his 40 speed or any measurements.  i think he's faster than most, but more importantly, one of the most productive running QBs i can remember.  part of perception is how decisive, good vision of where you are going, how quickly you run downhill and how many specific plays are designed by the coaching staff/players for run QBs.

probably obvious that some of the other QBs on roster will better his passing ability, other than the fact that he now has the most hard experience.  but, i don't think anyone currently on roster will come close to his running ability and it was effective, many times responsible for moving the chains when it appeared nothing else was going to work.
 
it does appear the majority of fans would rather have a smart, accurate, pocket-first style QB.  i could live with a true dual threat, but maybe we'll never get that in Fancher.  to his credit, he has thrown a limited number of extremely accurate passes, and therefore is capable.  he has a lefty-type ackward, hitch/limp that may not be correctable, idk.
 
i have hope, but i'm not sold that we'll have a champion on the current roster.  however, i hope we don't sign another upper-class/grad transfer who never accomplished anything.  bottom line is the coaching staff needs to improve on how to find, assess, recruit and develop QBs no matter what class they are or where they come from.

[MicDrass1]

Chase Harrison duel threat?

[MUonium]

Chase Harrison duel threat?

correction: Harrison is a Pro-Style QB Per H-D March 22, 2021
i think so, but i don't recall.  obviously, he didn't beat out Fancher overall, but that's not to say he hasn't or won't improve/mature come spring or fall.  same goes for all

by the way MicDrass1, i respect your FB posts.

[herdfan129]

I still think people are underestimating Fancher. I?m excited to see how hard he works this off-season and how much he improves.

His athletic ability is off the charts. If he can be a more consistently accurate passer then he?s going to be a STUD. He?s shown flashes and overall played and produced how you would expect a FR to play/produce.

[whf]

I still think people are underestimating Fancher. I?m excited to see how hard he works this off-season and how much he improves.

His athletic ability is off the charts. If he can be a more consistently accurate passer then he?s going to be a STUD. He?s shown flashes and overall played and produced how you would expect a FR to play/produce.

Was thinking today that we went from almost destitute this year to six wins out of the last seven games, we were three and three on the evening of October 12.  We finished 9 - 4, with our RS Freshman QB winning six of those games, 6 out of 7 isn't bad.  And with the exception of the last (very testing first bowl game) game, he got better every game.

He needs to continue to develop his own confidence and get control of his "wells-effect", throwing the ball high.  I could be wrong, but i'd expect him to be our QB for three more years; either than or a highly regarded NFL receiver draft choice after his junior year.

[herdorbust2]

I still think people are underestimating Fancher. I?m excited to see how hard he works this off-season and how much he improves.

His athletic ability is off the charts. If he can be a more consistently accurate passer then he?s going to be a STUD. He?s shown flashes and overall played and produced how you would expect a FR to play/produce.

If people want a QB that has to manage a game around his weaknesses then he will be the guy. He can run and make a few safe passes. But he will never be a good passing QB. His mechanics are terrible. We better keep a great defense and running game because he will never be a Pennington, Leftwich, Peyton, Cato type passer. He doesn't throw the ball, he flips it.

[Johnnyherd]

I have no basis for these statements other than just years of following football.  I don't think Parachek was recruited for next season.  I could be wrong.  I think they will look to him in 24,25.

It's so hard to say because think about it like this, Fancher was probably recruited to sit behind Grant Wells and start Fancher's senior year. 

Grant Wells was probably recruited to challenge to start, then Holiday declares Isiah Green the starter and Grant Wells is now the back up for the next 3 years.

So really none of our best laid plans have worked out.  Who knows what direction we will go.

Although one thing is for sure, you better have 2 decent QBs on the roster at all times and I think that's what his staff is trying to cement.

[MicDrass1]

I?d like a deadly accurate passer decision maker that can scramble through and then away from the pocket and pressure.  Not necessarily a runner equal to passer. 

[parshall2marshall]

Well, we had a Yurachek, why not a Parachek ( Uruguay/Paraguay ).

Seems to have a great feel for the QB position, although the comp looks highly suspect.

[MicDrass1]

Chase Harrison hudl
https://www.hudl.com/profile/8135146

Cole Pennington hudl
https://www.hudl.com/profile/12841385

[MicDrass1]

Chase Harrison hudl
https://www.hudl.com/profile/8135146

Cole Pennington hudl
https://www.hudl.com/profile/12841385

Both Scramblers - pennington works pocket better and can scramble.  We need an ol that can pass and run block.